Forget 3D, You'll Be Able to Watch the Olympics In Super Hi-Vision Ultra HD

We’ve already heard the BBC’s plans for 3D, which include just the opening and closing ceremonies; the men’s 100m final, and a highlights package at the end of each day. But screw 3D; you’ll be able to watch the Olympics in incredible Super Hi-Vision – that’s 16 times the level of detail of HD.

We heard the possibility of the Olympics in 8k4k back in November, but the BBC has confirmed it's partnered with Japan’s Super Hi-Vision pioneer, NHK, to record the opening and closing ceremonies in Ultra HD, along with selected events and a highlights package during the games. To watch it in eye-blistering detail you’ll have to get yourself to one of the three 400-inch 7680x4320 (8k4k) resolution cinema screens in Glasgow, Bradford or London, but it’ll almost be better than actually being there live thanks to 22.2 surround sound to boot.

Tickets to watch the events will be free and released sometime in May with a BBC promotion, so keep your eyes peeled around then. The BBC is constructing a 100-seat cinema at BBC Scotland’s TV studios in Glasgow for the broadcast, while the National Media Museum will take care of things in Bradford, and the Radio Theatre in the new Broadcasting House will do the 8k4k honours in London.

The massive Super Hi-Vision pictures will be fired across the UK through the 20Gbit JANET network that connects some of the UK's universities and already handles the masses of data researchers produce.

I don’t know about you, but I’d say getting in on one of these free Super Hi-Vision broadcasts is a hell of a lot better than forking out thousands to get crammed in with a butt-load of tourists up in the Gods of some Olympic venue – you won’t even need binoculars. [TechRadar]